Bicyclist Found Guilty of Vehicular Manslaughter

Posted on December 10th, 2013

It’s not uncommon to hear about a conviction for vehicular manslaughter, which occurs when a vehicle is a tool in a person’s death. It includes all vehicles designed to mainly transport people on public roads. Despite the frequency of vehicular homicide cases, for the first time in the United States, a bicyclist has been convicted of vehicular manslaughter.

After a fatal collision with a 71-year-old pedestrian, Chris Bucchere pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter. Though no prison time was sentenced, the prosecutor told the press they hope to send a message to bicyclist’s everywhere and prevent further injuries. “Just because you are riding a bicycle doesn’t mean all bets are off. All of the rules of the road that apply to everyone else apply to you too,” said prosecutor George Gascon.

Most pedestrians are alert for dangerous drivers, but usually don’t pay attention to the danger posed by a speeding bicyclist. Bicyclist and pedestrian accidents are not uncommon; in fact, the State Department of Health of New York found that 1,000 pedestrians a year are treated for injuries after being struck by bicycles.

Pedestrians and bicyclists should be as alert for each other as they are for the motor vehicles on the road. Pay attention to each person on the road, including bicyclists and pedestrians, could prevent an accident and devastating injuries.

At Ray Hodge & Associates, we believe in personal injury handled personally. At our office you see a lawyer from the very first meeting because we believe your case deserves an experienced personal injury attorney right from the start.

If you have had a Kansas pedestrian injury that was not your fault and need medical treatment, you need an experienced professional who can help you get back on the road to recovery. Call us today at 316-269-1414 or visit our contact page here. Our Kansas personal injury attorneys will provide you a free initial consultation and if we take your case you don’t pay a dime unless we recover money for you. Even then we only take a percentage of the total amount of your recovery.

If you have questions on what you should be looking for when you are making a decision to hire a Kansas personal injury lawyer, read our article located here.

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Ray Hodge & Associates proudly represents victims and their families across the state of Kansas, including Wichita, Andover, Derby, Goddard, Haysville, Mulvane, Rose Hill, Newton, El Dorado and Hutchinson. Call today for a free consultation all over the state of Kansas. We have proudly served clients in Sedgwick, Butler, Sumner, Harvey, Kingman and Reno Counties.